Entry requirements

Why study the Bachelor of Arts (Honours)

The BA (honours) degree develops core skills and knowledge in theory and research in the humanities and social sciences. The program is based on a combination of coursework and a research project in the chosen field of study. Its objective is to produce graduates who will be able to think clearly, flexibly and critically, and be able to weigh up evidence and arguments and make rational choices. Graduates should be able to express themselves effectively, both orally and in writing; be able to work cooperatively in a team; and be able to demonstrate a depth of understanding in one or more fields of knowledge. The Honours Program also prepares students for further study at the Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) level.

Please note that some specialisations have an intake in semester 1 only. Please check the details for specialisations (under "What you can study") or contact the relevant school.

Honours in Ancient History prepares students to undertake advanced research in areas such as ancient history and languages, and further develops the analytical, methodological, and communicative skills which they have already gained from their undergraduate studies.

Anthropology at undergraduate level is the study of human culture in all its diversity and richness, and employs a broad approach that draws on other disciplines such as archaeology, human biology, lingustics, and material culture studies. Anthropologists study the cultures and societies of the past few centuries, ranging from small-scale indigenous peoples, to the modern capitalist world system with all the globalising processes it has set in motion.
The main aims of the Honours year are:
To enable students with an adequate background in Anthropology to pursue further study in one specialist area in more depth than is possible with a pass degree
To enhance students' capacity for independent research and to acquire research skills appropriate to their area of specialisation.
To train to a standard sufficient for enrolment in postgraduate research degrees, and for a specialist career. Achievement of first class or IIA honours allows direct entry to a PhD program.
Please note that this field has a Semester 1 commencement only.

Archaeology at undergraduate level is the scientific study of the prehistoric and historic human past. Archaeologists examine human culture and biological evolution through the study of artefacts, human remains, and other materials from the past in order to understand humankind's cultural origins and development.
The main aims of the Honours year are:
To enable students with an adequate background in Archaeology to pursue further study in one specialist area in more depth than is possible with a pass degree
To enhance students' capacity for independent research and to acquire research skills appropriate to their area of specialisation.
To train to a standard sufficient for enrolment in postgraduate research degrees, and for a specialist career. Achievement of first class or IIA honours allows direct entry to a PhD program.

Note: Students wishing to undertake Honours in Archaeology are required to complete both ARCS3001 - Advanced Research in Archaeology and the extended major.
Please note that this field has a Semester 1 commencement only.

An Honours year in Art History focuses on developing and consolidating the knowledge and skills acquired during undergraduate study, with particular emphasis on utilising those skills in a sustained and purposeful way by conducting independent research. It marks the transition from student to scholar. The program combines coursework with a research thesis. Its primary objectives are: to enable students with an adequate background in Art History to pursue further study in one specialist area of research; to enhance students' capacity for employment in the visual arts sector; to enhance students' capacity for independent research; and to enable students to acquire the research skills necessary for postgraduate study. Apart from content knowledge, employers and professionals value Honours graduates' advanced communication skills, capacity for independent work, and ability to think critically and write substantial reports. Honours graduates are trained to a standard sufficient for enrolment in postgraduate research degrees, and for a specialist career. At The University of Queensland, achievement of First Class or IIA Honours in Art History allows direct entry to the Doctor of Philosophy in Art History or the Doctor of Philosophy in Art History by Exhibition.

Chinese is the most widely-spoken language in the world, and the focus at undergraduate level is the development of communicative competency. By studying Chinese at undergraduate level, students will gain valuable insight into the rich cultural traditions and contemporary socio-cultural aspects of China.
The main aims of the Honours year are:
To enable students with an adequate background in Chinese Studies to pursue further study in one specialist area in more depth than is possible with a pass degree
To enhance students' capacity for independent research and to acquire research skills appropriate to their area of specialisation.
To train to a standard sufficient for enrolment in postgraduate research degrees, and for a specialist career. Achievement of first class or IIA honours allows direct entry to a PhD program.

The Honours in Classical Languages develops further the linguistic and literary skills acquired by students in their undergraduate studies and prepares them for undertaking advanced research in a chosen area of Classical Languages literature.
Students will write a thesis of 10,000 words on a topic of their choice, under the direction of a thesis adviser, in which they will be expected to demonstrate detailed knowledge of the relevant Greek and Latin texts in the original language. In addition, students will read for examination purposes a number of texts chosen from a wide range of literary genres.
The main aims of the Honours year are:
To enable students with an adequate background in Classical Languages to pursue further study in one specialist area in more depth than is possible with a pass degree
To enhance students capacity for independent research and to acquire research skills appropriate to their area of specialisation.
To train to a standard sufficient for enrolment in postgraduate research degrees, and for a specialist career. Achievement of first class or IIA honours allows direct entry to a PhD program.

Honours in Communication and Cultural Studies enables students to work with an academic supervisor to design a thesis topic in Film and Television Studies, Media Studies, Communication Studies, or Cultural Studies. The Honours year focuses on developing and consolidating the knowledge and skills acquired during undergraduate study, with particular emphasis on using those skills in a sustained and purposeful way by conducting independent research. Apart from content knowledge, employers and professionals value Honours graduates advanced communication skills, the capacity for independent work, and the ability to think critically and write substantial reports. The main aims of the Honours year are:

To enable students with an adequate background in Communication and Cultural Studies, Media Studies, or Film and Television Studies to pursue further study in a specialist area in more depth than is possible with a pass degree.

To enhance students' capacity for independent research and to acquire research skills appropriate to their area of specialisation.

To train to a standard sufficient for enrolment in postgraduate research degrees, and for a specialist career. Achievement of first class or IIA honours allows entry to a PhD or MPhil program.

Undergraduate study in Criminology is the study of crime, deviance, and the criminal justice system's response to crime control, and provides a comprehensive exploration of the area from the sociological perspective. Students study the theoretical and empirical bases of criminology and related social issues that influence public policy decision-making on crime and its control. Criminology helps students develop an understanding of patterns and causes of criminality and the operations of the criminal justice system, and will be equipped with the skills needed to collect, interpret and evaluate information about crime and criminal justice. Criminology is a multidisciplinary field with links to sociology, political science, law, psychology, history, and philosophy.
The main aims of the Honours year are:
To enable students with an adequate background in Criminology to pursue further study in one specialist area in more depth than is possible with a pass degree
To enhance students' capacity for independent research and to acquire research skills appropriate to their area of specialisation.
To train to a standard sufficient for enrolment in postgraduate research degrees, and for a specialist career. Achievement of first class or IIA honours allows direct entry to a PhD program.

The Honours program in Drama provides an understanding of the theatrical, and theoretical aspects of drama, from medieval street theatre, to the most recent Australian and European drama.
The focus is on combining historical awareness with a framework for practical applications. The study of drama at honours level provides an enhanced context for understanding, analysing, and creating performance.
The main aims of the Honours year are:
To enable students with an adequate background in Drama to pursue further study in one specialist area in more depth than is possible with a pass degree.
To enhance students' capacity for independent research and to acquire research skills appropriate to their area of specialisation.
To train to a standard sufficient for enrolment in postgraduate research degrees, and for a specialist career. Achievement of first class or IIA honours allows direct entry to a PhD program.

Economics at the undergraduate level teaches students to think critically about complex situations, and trains them in the economic way of thinking. This involves taking into account relevant alternatives and carefully weighing up the costs and benefits of decisions.
An understanding of economic principles gives students a framework for interpreting and predicting prices and production costs in local and international markets and for understanding why businesses succeed or fail. These principles also enable students to understand the economy-wide factors that affect businesses - such as inflation, interest rates, the exchange rate, and economic growth.
The main aims of the Honours year are:
To enable students with an adequate background in Economics to pursue further study in one specialist area in more depth than is possible with a pass degree
To enhance students' capacity for independent research and to acquire research skills appropriate to their area of specialisation.
To train to a standard sufficient for enrolment in postgraduate research degrees, and for a specialist career. Achievement of first class or IIA honours allows direct entry to a PhD program.

The Honours program in English Literature enables students to consolidate and develop the knowledge of the discipline and the analytic skills already acquired during three years of undergraduate study.
The main benefits to students of the program:
The development of a deeper knowledge of the discipline than it is possible to attain in the course of a pass degree;
The development of such employable skills as research and project management;
The opportunity to work one-on-one with a specialist supervisor in the production of a piece of in-depth research (the thesis), and to study in small intensively run seminars;
An honours degree is necessary for entry into a postgraduate research program in Australia. Achievement of Honours I or Honours IIA allows direct entry into a PhD program.

French, with English and Spanish, is one of the three languages used most widely across the globe. It is the first or second language in about forty countries, including some of Australia s nearest neighbours in the Pacific. A knowledge of French will give students access to rich cultural traditions in art, philosophy, architecture, music, literature, film, fashion and cuisine.
The main aims of the Honours year are:
To enable students with an adequate background in French to pursue further study in one specialist area in more depth than is possible with a pass degree
To enhance students capacity for independent research and to acquire research skills appropriate to their area of specialisation.
To train to a standard sufficient for enrolment in postgraduate research degrees, and for a specialist career. Achievement of first class or IIA honours allows direct entry to a PhD program.

An Honours year in Geography focuses on developing and consolidating the knowledge and skills acquired during undergraduate study, with particular emphasis on utilising those skills in a sustained and purposeful way in conducting independent research.
Apart from content knowledge, employers and professionals value both the reliability and capacity for independent work, and the skill at writing substantial reports which are demonstrated by successful completion of Honours.
The main aims of the Honours year are:
To enable students with an adequate background in Geographical Sciences and Planning to pursue further study in one specialist area in more depth than is possible with a pass degree.
To enhance students' capacity for independent research and to acquire research skills appropriate to their area of specialization.
To train to a standard sufficient for enrolment in postgraduate research degrees, and for a specialist career. Achievement of first class and IIA honours allows direct entry to a PhD program.
Thesis topics in the Geography Honours program largely derive from the following main themes:
Physical geography, environmental processes and management
Urban and regional analysis
Planning
Geographic information science

German-speaking countries have a long and rich cultural history encompassing many aspects of literature, art, architecture and music. Undergraduate level study in German covers the history, literature and culture of Germany.
An Honours year in German focuses on developing and consolidating the knowledge and skills acquired during undergraduate study, with particular emphasis on utilising those skills in a sustained and purposeful way by conducting independent research.
Apart from content knowledge, employers and professionals value both the reliability and capacity for independent work, and the skill at writing substantial reports which are demonstrated by successful completion of Honours.
The main aims of the Honours year are:
To enable students with an adequate background in German to pursue further study in one specialist area in more depth than is possible with a pass degree
To enhance students capacity for independent research and to acquire research skills appropriate to their area of specialisation.
To train to a standard sufficient for enrolment in postgraduate research degrees, and for a specialist career. Achievement of first class or IIA honours allows direct entry to a PhD program.

The Honours program in History prepares students to undertake advanced research in history, and introduces the techniques, methodologies, writing and communication skills required of the professional researcher.
Students write a thesis of 15,000-20,000 words on a topic of their choice under the direction of a thesis adviser. In addition to the thesis component, students are required to complete four specialist research courses, including one compulsory course in historical theory and/or historiography, and selected courses in the fields of Australian, Asian, American, European, cultural, applied, and community history.
The main aims of the Honours year are:
To enable students with an adequate background in History to pursue further study in one specialist area in more depth than is possible with a pass degree
To enhance students' capacity for independent research and to acquire research skills appropriate to their area of specialisation.
To train to a standard sufficient for enrolment in postgraduate research degrees, and for a specialist career. Achievement of first class or IIA honours allows direct entry to a PhD program.

Indonesian is the language of Australia's closest neighbour, and is spoken by over 200 million people thorughout the world. The focus of the Indonesian program at undergraduate level is the development of spoken and written language skills through the study of a wide range of authentic sources from print and electronic media. Contemporary Indonesian society and culture is also studied in depth.
The main aims of the Honours year are:
To enable students with an adequate background in Indonesian to pursue further study in one specialist area in more depth than is possible with a pass degree
To enhance students capacity for independent research and to acquire research skills appropriate to their area of specialisation.
To train to a standard sufficient for enrolment in postgraduate research degrees, and for a specialist career. Achievement of first class or IIA honours allows direct entry to a PhD program.

Undergraduate level study in International Relations covers the study of political, security, economic, and cultural issues between nations in the local region and beyond, and introduces students to the major trends shaping the world around them and thus affecting their own lives. Students are trained in how to conceptualise and apply key approaches to those norms and policies that drive contemporary international politics, and to incorporate such training into the development of tangible professional opportunities.
The main aims of the Honours year are:
To enable students with an adequate background in International Relations to pursue further study in one specialist area in more depth than is possible with a pass degree
To enhance students' capacity for independent research and to acquire research skills appropriate to their area of specialisation.
To train to a standard sufficient for enrolment in postgraduate research degrees, and for a specialist career. Achievement of first class or IIA honours allows direct entry to a PhD program.

Japanese is the most widely-learned foreign language in Australia, and the focus at undergraduate level is the development of communicative competency. By studying Japanese at undergraduate level, students will gain valuable insight into the rich cultural traditions and contemporary socio-cultural aspects of Japan.
The main aims of the Honours year are:
To enable students with an adequate background in Japanese to pursue further study in one specialist area in more depth than is possible with a pass degree
To enhance students capacity for independent research and to acquire research skills appropriate to their area of specialisation.
To train to a standard sufficient for enrolment in postgraduate research degrees, and for a specialist career. Achievement of first class or IIA honours allows direct entry to a PhD program.

Journalism at undergraduate level prepares students for careers as journalists and provides a general education about journalism and news media, press, radio, television and multimedia. The focus is on practical and theoretical aspects of journalism, including reporting and writing, ethics, law, research methods, photojournalism and design.
The main aims of the Honours year are:
To enable students with an adequate background in Journalism & Mass Communication to pursue further study in one specialist area in more depth than is possible with a pass degree
To enhance students capacity for independent research and to acquire research skills appropriate to their area of specialisation.
To train to a standard sufficient for enrolment in postgraduate research degrees, and for a specialist career. Achievement of first class or IIA honours allows direct entry to a PhD program.

The Honours year focuses on developing and consolidating the knowledge and skills acquired during undergraduate study, with particular emphasis on utilising those skills in a sustained and purposeful way by conducting independent research.
Students will develop an enhanced capacity for independent research and will acquire research skills appropriate to their area of specialisation; they will also train to a standard sufficient for enrolment in postgraduate research degrees, and for a specialist career.

Undergraduate level study in Linguistics focuses on the study of language, and how it is structured and how it is used. The structure of language examines its sounds (phonetics and phonology), words (morphology), sentences (syntax) and meaning (semantics).
How language is used includes looking at how children acquire language and how adults process it, both as a native language and as a second language (psycholinguistics). The way language changes across time (historical linguistics), and how different regional, social or occupational varieties develop (sociolinguistics) can also be studied at undergraduate level.
The main aims of the Honours year are:
To enable students with an adequate background in General Linguistics to pursue further study in one specialist area in more depth than is possible with a pass degree
To enhance students' capacity for independent research and to acquire research skills appropriate to their area of specialisation.
To train to a standard sufficient for enrolment in postgraduate research degrees, and for a specialist career. Achievement of first class or IIA honours allows direct entry to a PhD program.

Undergraduate level Mathematics may be studied for its own sake, or for its extensive applications in the physical and biological sciences, engineering, information technology, economics, or finance areas. The Honours program in Mathematics requires students to complete a research project in a chosen area, as well as courses offered in Pure Mathematics, Applied and Computational Mathematics, and Statistics.
The main aims of the Honours year are:
To enable students with an adequate background in Mathematics to pursue further study in one specialist area in more depth than is possible with a pass degree
To enhance students' capacity for independent research and to acquire research skills appropriate to their area of specialisation.
To train to a standard sufficient for enrolment in postgraduate research degrees, and for a specialist career. Achievement of first class or IIA honours allows direct entry to a PhD program.

There are two major areas of focus in the honours year in Music - a study of research methodology as it relates to music, and the researching and writing a thesis of about 15,000 words. The Honours program in Music enables students to pursue their particular interests while adding to their overall body of knowledge acquired through their undergraduate study, and also serves as valuable preparation for participation in further research.
The main aims of the Honours year are:
To enable students with an adequate background in Music to pursue further study in one specialist area in more depth than is possible with a pass degree
To enhance students' capacity for independent research and to acquire research skills appropriate to their area of specialisation.
To train to a standard sufficient for enrolment in postgraduate research degrees, and for a specialist career. Achievement of first class or IIA honours allows direct entry to a PhD program.

Undergraduate level study in Peace and Conflict Studies trains students in the understanding of the causes of political conflict and the possibilities of finding peaceful solutions to them. This requires development of diagnostic tools for the analysis of social and political situations, an understanding of the evaluation of alternative courses of action and a capacity to incorporate and understand values within political analysis. Examples in question range from recent conflicts in East Timor to aboriginal reconciliation. The importance of peace and conflict studies is growing both internationally and within nations as governments and non-government organisations struggle to find ways of resolving conflicts without recourse to violence. The main aims of the Honours year are: To enable students with an adequate background in Peace and Conflict Studies to pursue further study in one specialist area in more depth than is possible with a pass degree; to enhance students' capacity for independent research and to acquire research skills appropriate to their area of specialisation; to train to a standard sufficient for enrolment in postgraduate research degrees, and for a specialist career.

The Honours program in Philosophy provides students with a solid foundation to undertake advanced study in philosophy. Honours students are required to attend a general seminar which runs throughout the year, and to complete four individually supervised research papers from topics nominated by members of the School. The Honours Program provides students with the disciplinary background and the research skills necessary to pursue postgraduate research degrees in philosophy in Australia and overseas, as well as the generic skills for undertaking complex research tasks and critical analysis generally.
The main aims of the Honours year are:
To enable students with an adequate background in Philosophy to pursue further study in one specialist area in more depth than is possible with a pass degree
To enhance students' capacity for independent research and to acquire research skills appropriate to their area of specialisation.
To train to a standard sufficient for enrolment in postgraduate research degrees, and for a specialist career. Achievement of first class or IIA honours allows direct entry to a PhD program.

Undergraduate level study in Political Science is concerned with how we make sense of the kind of society we live in, the current challenges it faces and how current political institutions ought to respond to complex policy problems in an era of rapid social change. Students develop specialist knowledge and skills concerning the philosophical and ideological issues underlying political decisions and policy.
Political Science includes the study of political structures, processes and policies in Australia, as well as other societies, the contemporary ideas, ideologies and theories that determine the framework for political decision making, and the organisational and diplomatic approaches to cooperation and conflict resolution in the international system.
The main aims of the Honours year are:
To enable students with an adequate background in Political Science to pursue further study in one specialist area in more depth than is possible with a pass degree
To enhance students' capacity for independent research and to acquire research skills appropriate to their area of specialisation.
To train to a standard sufficient for enrolment in postgraduate research degrees, and for a specialist career. Achievement of first class or IIA honours allows direct entry to a PhD program.

At undergraduate level, Psychology provides students with an introduction to the scientific study of human behaviour and mental processes. Psychology, as a discipline, is broad ranging and spans such topics as perception, sensation, the biological basis of behaviour, motivation, development, cognition, learning, communication, social and group behaviour, and abnormal behaviour.
Psychology provides valuable analytical thinking skills, as well as a range of other skills, including problem-solving and program evaluation skills that are valuable personally and in many professions.
The main aims of the Honours year are:
To enable students with an adequate background in Psychology to pursue further study in one specialist area in more depth than is possible with a pass degree
To enhance students' capacity for independent research and to acquire research skills appropriate to their area of specialisation.
To train to a standard sufficient for enrolment in postgraduate research degrees, and for a specialist career. Achievement of first class or IIA honours allows direct entry to a PhD program.

Undergraduate study in Public Policy is covers issues of modern governance in general, and examines the institutions and processes of public policy in particular. Public policies give expression to the authoritative aims and actions of governments and agencies of the state. The making and implementing of public policy is the core function of the modern state. The main focus is on the political, institutional, economic, social and ideological forces that shape Australian governance and public policy. The main aims of the Honours year are: To enable students with an adequate background in Public Policy to pursue further study in one specialist area in more depth than is possible with a pass degree; To enhance students' capacity for independent research and to acquire research skills appropriate to their area of specialisation; To train to a standard sufficient for enrolment in postgraduate research degrees, and for a specialist career.

Russian is one of the world s major languages, with almost two hundred million native speakers in Europe and Asia. The acquisition of practical language skills at undergraduate level is emphasized through a variety of teaching approaches and interactive learning situations. Courses in Russian cultural history, literature, and film are also available in English.
The main aims of the Honours year are:
To enable students with an adequate background in Russian to pursue further study in one specialist area in more depth than is possible with a pass degree
To enhance students capacity for independent research and to acquire research skills appropriate to their area of specialisation.
To train to a standard sufficient for enrolment in postgraduate research degrees, and for a specialist career. Achievement of first class or IIA honours allows direct entry to a PhD program.

Sociology at undergraduate level involves the scientific study of all facets of social life, from face-to-face interactions to the study of the world system, is concerned with understanding and interpreting society and the people within it, and can be applied to a range of social issues to understand why patterns exist, why problems have occurred (e.g. crime, disease), and how they might be addressed. Central to the work of sociology are themes related to culture, identity, power and inequality, and an investigation of how these are changing in contemporary life. Sociologists focus on recurrent social patterns in contemporary societies, but also address historical events and processes.
The main aims of the Honours year are:
To enable students with an adequate background in Sociology to pursue further study in one specialist area in more depth than is possible with a pass degree
To enhance students' capacity for independent research and to acquire research skills appropriate to their area of specialisation.
To train to a standard sufficient for enrolment in postgraduate research degrees, and for a specialist career. Achievement of first class or IIA honours allows direct entry to a PhD program.
Please note that this field has a Semester 1 commencement only.

Spanish is the language of over 350 million people and is the official language of 21 countries in three continents. It is an important community language in Australia, and it has been identified as one of the nine Key National Languages by the Australian National Policy on Languages.
Students at undergraduate level study Spanish language courses, as well Spanish history, literature, and film.
The main aims of the Honours year are:
To enable students with an adequate background in Spanish to pursue further study in one specialist area in more depth than is possible with a pass degree
To enhance students capacity for independent research and to acquire research skills appropriate to their area of specialisation.
To train to a standard sufficient for enrolment in postgraduate research degrees, and for a specialist career. Achievement of first class or IIA honours allows direct entry to a PhD program.

The Honours program in Sports Studies has a strong social science/socio-cultural studies focus. Prospective students must arrange for an academic staff member from the School of Human Movement Studies to be their supervisor before enrolment in the honours program is permitted.
Apart from content knowledge, employers and professionals value both the reliability and capacity for independent work, and the skill at writing substantial reports which are demonstrated by successful completion of Honours.
The main aims of the Honours year are:
To enable students with an adequate background in Sports Studies to pursue further study in one specialist area in more depth than is possible with a pass degree
To enhance students' capacity for independent research and to acquire research skills appropriate to their area of specialisation.
To train to a standard sufficient for enrolment in postgraduate research degrees, and for a specialist career. Achievement of first class or IIA honours allows direct entry to a PhD program.

The Honours program in Studies in Religion is designed to enable students to become acquainted with and competent in the methods and procedures applied in researching religion. These skills are acquired in group interaction with other students developing research projects, in consultation with a staff member who acts as an adviser and mentor, and in writing a major thesis.
The main aims of the Honours year are:
To enable students with an adequate background in Studies in Religion to pursue further study in one specialist area in more depth than is possible with a pass degree
To enhance students' capacity for independent research and to acquire research skills appropriate to their area of specialisation.
To train to a standard sufficient for enrolment in postgraduate research degrees, and for a specialist career. Achievement of first class or IIA honours allows direct entry to a PhD program.